'I was banned from Facebook for sharing a link about breastfeeding'

Kerryn is an admin on a breastfeeding group and was shocked to face a ban simply for sharing information.

A mum who has helped hundreds of women with breastfeeding problems has been banned from Facebook for sharing medical information containing a picture of a nipple.

Kerryn Gill-Rich, who has been an administrator on the group Breastfeeders in Australia since its beginning five years ago, received the rolling ban after responding to a call for help from a distressed mum with a common problem called nipple blanching. The group assists and supports women through breastfeeding and Kerryn often answers questions about common breastfeeding problems.

This is what the link that Kerryn shared on Facebook looks like.

Just trying to help

Kerryn shared with the group a link to the website Kellymom containing medical information on the condition known as vasospasm – a link she said she shares at least twice a week, which includes a picture of a normal nipple and one with nipple blanching.

Facebook has strict regulations around nudity, they write: "...We also restrict some images of female breasts if they include the nipple, but we always allow photos of women actively engaged in breastfeeding or showing breasts with post-mastectomy scarring."

While Kerryn's link doesn't fall into the active breastfeeding category, the images are clearly medical and presented as an educational aid.

“I am quite gobsmacked that I have been caught up in it all. In helping others, I have risked my own family connections on Facebook and all my pictures, which I don’t think is fair,” Kerryn said.

At this stage, Kerryn has been barred from Facebook for seven days for posting the link twice, but she fears it will become a permanent ban once Facebook go through her history and see how many times she has shared the link. She said you are only allowed one right of reply for each ban and despite appealing to Facebook she doesn’t believe her case has been reviewed by an actual person.

“Any reasonable person could see it did have context and in that context, it is ok. If Facebook truly support breastfeeding what I have done should be ok,” Kerryn said.

Kerryn's family. Picture: supplied

As a parent of four breastfed children and a degree in human services, Kerryn has a passion for offering the peer to peer support that Breastfeeders in Australia provides. She said the group offers 24-hour instant support to mums in need.

“We are often up at 2am crying with a mum who is struggling as well. I want to provide to others the help I needed. I am really passionate about it,” Kerryn said.

The ban occurred on Tuesday last week when Facebook contacted her to say she had violated its community standards.

“I asked for a review of the case, but that has clearly not been done by a human. If it was done by a person they would see it is a medical professional’s website and it is on a breastfeeding group,” she said.

Kerryn is unsure if the ban relates to the wording in the link which talks about nipples being cut off from blood supply which may trigger Facebook’s self-harm clause.

Crucial member of the group

Lauren Threadgate, who set up the group, which has 30 000 members, five years ago is also shocked and upset by Kerryn’s ban.

“Kerryn is crucial to the group. She has overcome many issues of her own and has helped so many people. One mum said Kerryn saved her life by being there in the middle of the night and being able to talk to her. The members are horrified she is being punished. Some are afraid because she is not around to help them anymore,” Lauren said.

A petition has been started on change.org to end Kerryn’s ban. It aims to reach 5000 signatures and in three days it has been signed over 3000 times.

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